Automatic window latch



Aug. 7, 1951 J. R. BURBRIDGE AUTOMATIC WINDOW LATCH Filed NOV. 18, 1946 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Aug. 7, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AUTOMATIC WINDOW LATCH John R. Burbridge, Kenosha, Wis.

Application November 18, 1946, Serial No. 710,609

'1 Claims. 1

The invention relates in general to improvements in closure fasteners, and relates more specifically to various improvements in the construction and operation of devices for automatically latching or holding sliding closures such as window sash, in any desired position of adjustment.

The primary object of my invention is to provide an improved automatic window sash latch which is simple, compact and durable in construction, and which is also highly effective in use and flexible in its adaptations.

As shown and described in my prior patent No. 2,041,396, granted May 19, 1936, I have heretofore produced an automatic latch for window sashes and similar sliding closures, wherein a pair of alined rollers are provided with coaxial pinions which are caused to cooperate with inclined racks mounted on the lower sash, in a manner whereby the rollers are wedged against the frame of the complementary relatively movable upper sash. While this previous window sash latch assemblage functions in a highly satisfactory manner, the device is relatively difficult and costly to manufacture; and since it is frequently desirable to apply several of these latches to each relatively wide window, and to all of the numerous sliding sash Windows in a building, it is necessary to reduce the cost of production to a minimum in order to augment commercial acceptance and use of these latches.

It is therefore a more specific object of the present invention to provide an improved automatic latch for sliding closures, of the general type shown in my above identified prior patent, but which may be readily manufactured at lower cost, and which also possesses numerous other advantages over the previously patented device.

Another specific object of this invention is to provide a relatively inexpensive but strong window sash latching device, most parts of which may be accurately and conveniently produced in rapid succession with the aid of punches and dies, and which may also be readily assembled and applied to the window sash or sash frames.

A further specific object of the invention is to provide an improved latch for preventing unauthorized opening of a sliding sash window or the like, which when properly installed cannot be readily removed from its carrying rail or frame, and the parts of which are retained in properly assembled condition after attachment of the device to a sash or frame.

Still another specific object of my present invention is to provide a compact and neat appearing but highly effective automatic window latch,

which is readily manipulable from within so as to permit free sliding of the sash frames and may be conveniently retained in such released condition.

An additional specific object of this invention is to provide an improved window sash latching device, all parts of which may be readily produced of sturdy material in a manner whereby similar parts are freely interchangeable, and which may be manufactured at moderate cost and installed with minimum effort on various types of sliding closures.

These and other specific objects and 'advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description.

A clear conception of the several features constituting my present improvement, and of the construction and operation of a typical embodiment of the invention, may be had by referring to the drawing accompanying and forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate the same or similar parts in the various views.

Fig.1 is a front view of a typical automatic window latch embodying the present improvements, showing the device mounted upon a fragment of the upper or mid-rail of a lower window sash;

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section through the latch of Fig. 1 taken along the line 2-2, and showing the device in active or latching position with respect to the lower and upper window closures;

Fig. 3 is another transverse vertical section through the same latch taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, and showing the latching elements in inactive position in solid lines and in active position in dot-and-dash lines;

Fig. 4 is a central longitudinal section through the improved roller and knurled wheel assemblage of the new device; and

Fig. 5 is a side view of the roller, knurled wheel and lever assembly of the improved window latch.

While the improvement has been shown and described herein as being advantageously applicable to an ordinary sliding sash window, it is not my desire or intention to unnecessarily limit the scope or utility of the invention by virtue of this specific embodiment, since the improved features may obviously be applied to various other types of sliding panel closures.

Referring to the drawing, the improved automatic latch shown therein, comprises in'general a unitary metal frame or bracket 1 having integral opposite upright side walls 8 provided with arcu-.

ate wedge surfaces 9 along their forward edges, the frame also having an integral downwardly directed front flange I; a transverse shaft I I snugly fitting alined openings in the walls 8 and terminating flush with the outer surfaces of these walls; a flat lever or member I2 oscillatable upon the shaft I I midway between the walls 8 and having its forward end provided with a guide slot I4 while its rear end I5 is formed for finger or thumb engagement, and its upper medial portion has an opening IB therethrough; a wedge element or floating rotor Il having a pair of hardened coaxial peripherally knurled wheels I8 integrally united by a reduced portion I9 adapted to engage the lever slot I4, and also having a relatively hard rubber tire or roller 20 embracing each wheel I8 closely adjacent to the reduced portion I9; and a casing or housing 22 coacting with bracket I and with the walls 8 to enclose the sides and rear portion of the active latch elements, the housing 22 having an open front 23 and an inclined rear wall 24 provided with an upwardly directed central slot 25 through which the rear end I5 of the lever member I2 normally projects.

The bracket I, lever member I2, and housing 22 may be formed of sheet metal of any desired thickness, with the aid of punches and dies; and the opposite side walls of the housing 22 preferably snugly engage the adjacent outer surfaces of the bracket walls 8 when the parts have been assembled as shown, in order to hold the shaft I I in place and to confine the ends of this shaft within the alined openings in the walls 8. The slot 25 formed in the rear Wall 24 of the housing 22, serves to maintain the lever member I2 upon the mid-portion of the shaft I I midway between the bracket walls 8, and the lever slot I4 within which the rotor I! is normally slidably and rotatably confined, is preferably provided with an end nib or projection 26 as shown in Figs. 3 and 5, for preventing the rotor I! from falling out of the slot I4 when the member I2 is tilted downwardly. This projection 25 is so formed, that the bifurcations of the member I2 on the opposite sides of the slot I4, must be sprung apart slightly in order to permit insertion of the reduced medial portion I9 of the rotor within the slot I4; and when these bifurcations spring back to normal position, the rotor I'I cannot fall out of place but may float freely in the slot I4.

The floating rotor I1 is also of such length that it will be properly but rather loosely confined between the opposite side walls of the housing 22 when the device has been assembled, and the peripherally, knurled wheels I8 of this rotor I! should be formed of hard metal and should be rigidly united by the reduced medial journal portion I9. The peripheries of the hardened wheels I8 should be knurled so as to provide sharp projections or teeth which are adapted to bite into the arcuate front wedg surfaces 9 of the bracket side walls 8 during normal use of the latch; and thewedging tires or rollers 28 are preferably formed of relatively hard rubber bands which are stretched into embracing engagement with the wheels I8 closely adjacent to the rotor portion I9, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and/i. The outer ends of the rotor Il may be provided with cavities as shown, in order to reduce their weight and to save metal; and therotormay be swung either outwardly through the open front '23 of the easing orhousing 22 when active as in Fig. 2, or it may be swung entirely'within the housing and "confined therein as in Fig. 3, by inserting a nail 'or'pin2l withinthe lever opening I6. 7 I

When the parts of the improved automatic latch have been properly constructed and assembled as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, they may be firmly secured to the upper cross rail of a lower sliding window-sash 29 with the aid of screws 30, 3I, of which the screw 30 coacts with the bracket flange I I! while the other screw 3| coacts with both the rear portion of the housing 22 and the adjacent portion of the bracket 1. These two screws thus firmly retain the parts of the device in assembled condition with the rear actuating portion of the flat lever member I2 constantly projecting through the housing slot 25, and the knurled wheels I8 free to ride along the adjacent arcuate wedge surfaces 9 of the bracket walls 8. The rubber rollers 20 should then be in a position for coaction with the adjacent side rail of the complementary upper sash 32 of the same window, and one of the latching devices may if desired, be thus applied to each of the opposite sides of the lower sash 29.

After the latching device has been thus applied to a sliding window, and the holding pin 2'! has been withdrawn from the opening I6, the lower or upper sashes 29, 32 may be freely vertically adjusted from within or outside of the room, toward closed position only; but they can be moved toward their respective open positions only upon application of finger or thumb pressure downwardly against the inner end of the lever member I2 from within the enclosed room. When the wheels I8 and rollers 20 are in the full line position as illustrated in Fig. 2, and it is attempted to either raise the lower sash 29 or to lower the upper sash 32, the knurled peripheries of the wheels will bite into the adjacent inclined wedge surfaces 9 of the bracket side walls 8 and the rollers 20 will simultaneously clampingly engage the adjacent side rail of the upper sash 32, thereby positively preventing relative displacement of the sashes 29, 32. The latching device will thus prevent unauthorized opening of the window from the outside, but if the wheels I8 and rollers 20 are lifted away from the outer sash 32 by application of pressure to the inner end I5 of the member I2, the wheels I8 will roll freely along the adjacent surfaces 9 and the rotor I! will travel into the housing 22, thereby releasing the sashes 28, 32 for free sliding in either direction from either the interior or exterior of the window. If so desired, a pin 21 may also be inserted through the opening I6 so as to maintain the latch in inactive position; but when no pin 2'! is thus applied and the member I2 is released, the latch will function to automatically lock the sashes 29, 32 against opening movement regardless of the position of the rollers 28 along the adjacent side rail of the upper sash 32.

From the foregoing detailed description of the construction and operation of my invention, it will be apparent that I have provided an improved automatic sliding closure latch, which besides being simple, compact, and durable in construction, may be readily manufactured, assembled and applied to effectively prevent, unauthorized opening of the closure to which it is applied. The various parts of the improved assemblage may be easily and. accurately produced and applied to various types of sliding closures by a novice, and the kurled wheels I8 cooperating with the smooth wedge surfaces 9 most effectively perform their functions and may beaccurately produced at very moderate cost. The formation of the lever member I2 with a retalner projection 26 for the rotor l1, prevents the latter from dropping out of the slot I4, and the opening l6 and pin 21 provide simple means for releasing the latch. The flange l0 formed integral with the base of the bracket 1 may be bent to accurately fit the inclined adjacent surface of the sash, and cooperates with the rear portions of the bracket 1 and housing 22 and with the inwardly and downwardly directed screws 30, 3! to insure firm attachment of the units. The housing 22 besides protecting the latch mechanism, also enhances the aesthetic appearance of the device, and the improved latches have proven highly successful and satisfactory in actual use and may be produced from durable material at moderate cost.

It should be understood that it is not desired to limit this invention to the exact details of construction or to the precise mode of operation of the latch herein shown and described, for various modifications within the scope of the appended claims may occur to persons skilled in the art; and it is also contemplated that specific descriptive terms used herein shall be given the broadest possible interpretation consistent with the disclosure.

I claim:

1. An automatic window sash latch comprising, a bracket mountable upon one window sash and having a pair of spaced side walls provided with smooth arcuate downwardly and forwardly inclined wedge surfaces, a shaft spanning the space between said walls, a lever member oscillatable upon said shaft, a rotor carried by said member and having a reduced mid-portion and wheels on the opposite sides of the reduced portion provided with roughened peripheries the outer end portions of which are rollable along said surfaces and also havin tires embracing their inner ends and adapted to clampingly engage the complementary sash of the same window when opening force is applied to either sash, and a housing having opposite side walls cooperable with said bracket walls to prevent axial displacement of said shaft and also having a slot midway between its side walls and coactin with said lever members to maintain said member in proper position upon said shaft.

2. An automatic window sash latch comprising, a bracket mountable upon one window sash and having integral upstanding opposite side walls provided with smooth downwardly and forwardly inclined wedge surfaces at their forward edges, a shaft mounted in alined openings of said walls and spanning the space between the walls, a lever member rockable upon said shaft and having a slot open toward one of its ends and a release portion at its opposite end, and a rotor rotatable within and slidable along said member slot, said rotor having wheels provided with hard and knurled peripheries exposed portions of which are rollable along said wedge surfaces and also having roller tires embracing other portions of said peripheries laterally adjacent to said walls and adapted to clampingly engage the complementary sash of the same window when opening pressure is applied to either sash, and said rotor being removable from said lever member through said open slot end.

3. An automatic window sash latch comprising, a bracket mountable upon one window sash and having integral upstanding opposite side walls provided with smooth downwardly and forwardly inclined wedge surfaces at their forward edges, a shaft mounted in alined openings of said walls and spanning the space between the walls, a lever member rockable upon said shaft and having a slot in one end and a release portion at its opposite end, a rotor rotatable within and slidable along said member slot, said rotor having wheels provided with hard and knurled peripheries exposed portions of which are rollable along said wedge surfaces and also having roller tires embracing other portions of said peripheries laterally adjacent to said walls and adapted to clampingly engage the complementary sash of the same window when opening pressure is applied to either sash, and a housing enclosing said bracket and having side walls coacting with the opposite ends of said shaft and also having a transverse wall provided with'a slot coacting with said opposite lever member end to retain said parts in properly assembled position.

4. An automatic window sash latch comprising, a bracket mountable upon one window sash and having integral upstanding opposite side walls provided with smooth downwardly and forwardly inclined wedge surfaces at their forward edges, a shaft mounted in alined openings of said walls and spanning the space between the walls, a lever member rockable upon said shaft and having a slot open toward one of its ends and a release portion at its opposite end, and a rotor having a central portion rotatable within and slidable along said member slot, said rotor having wheels the outer ends of which arerrollable along said wall surfaces and also having roller tires embracing the inner ends thereof and adapted to clampingly engage the complementary sash of the same window when opening force is applied to either sash, and said lever member slot having a restricting projection at its open end cooperable with said rotor to prevent the latter from falling out of the open slot end while still permitting removal of the rotor through said restricted end.

5. An automatic window sash latch comprising, a bracket mountable upon one window sash and having integral upstanding side walls provided with inclined forward edges and with a depending attaching fiange between said well edges, a lever member rockably suspended from said walls midway therebetween and having a forwardly directed open slot therein, and a rotor rotatably and slidably confined within said slot and having peripherally roughened wheels the outer end portions of which are rollable along said surfaces and tire rollers embracing the inner end portions of said wheels and adapted for clamping engagement with the complementary sash of the same window when opening pressure is applied to either sash, said rotor being removable from said lever member through the open end of said slot.

6. An automatic window sash latch comprising, a bracket mountable upon one window sash and having integral upstanding side walls provided with inclined forward edges and with a depending attaching flange between said wall edges, a lever member rockably suspended from said walls midway therebetween and having a forwardly directed open slot therein, a rotor having its medial portion rotatably and slidably confined within said slot and having peripherally roughened wheels the outer end portions of which are rollable along said surfaces and tire rollers embracing the inner end portions of said wheels and adapted for clamping engagement with the complementary sash of the same window when opening pressure is applied to either sash, said. rotor being removable from said l ver member through. the open end of said slot, a housing enclosing said bracket and having a rear wall provided with aslot coacting with said memher to properly position the latter, and common means for fastening said housing and said bracket to their carrying sash.

'7. An automatic window sash latch comprising, a bracket mountable upon one window sash and having a pair of spaced side walls provided with downwardly and forwardly inclined wedge surfaces, a shaft spanning the space between said walls, a lever oscillatable about the axis of said shaft, a rotor carried by the swinging forward portion of said lever and having wheels rollable along said inclined surfaces, said, rotor also having tires adjacent to said rollers adapted to clampingly engage the complementary sash of the same window when opening force is applied to either sash, and a housing having oppo- 8 site side walls cooperable with said bracket walls and with the opposite ends of said shaft to prevent axial displacement of the shaft and also having a rear wall provided with a slot coacting with the rear end of said lever to maintain the latter in proper position upon said shaft.

JOHN R. BURBBI DGE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 631,254 Goodwin Aug. 15, 1899 719,593 Hubsch Feb. 3, 1903 1,164,724 Kilmer Dec. 21, 1915 1,658,688 Richard Feb. '7, 1928 2,041,396 Burbridge May 19, 1936 

